OUR COLLECTION — ASIA — KYRGYZSTAN 414. ASEL'S NATIVITY

​This Nativity is handcrafted from wool felt by Asel in the remote town of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan. Mary wears a fur hat. The Holy Family is joined by an angel, two shepherds, three wise men, and an embroidered yurt. The figures measure 3.5 inches tall.

Asel’s husband injured his neck as a young man. He is willing and eager to work, yet he has difficulty doing most types of labor because he experiences pain and blackouts. Their family, made up of Asel, her husband, and two daughters, relies heavily on the profits from the sale of Asel’s handicrafts.

Felt, or kiyiz in Kyrgyz, is manufactured through a laborious process. Sheared wool is first washed and dried. The dry wool is then placed on a chiy mat and whipped for several hours to make it fluffy. Next, the wool is sprinkled with hot water and the chiy mat is rolled up and tied with string. Once tied, hot water is poured over the roll in an open space and the roll is kicked and trodden on for several hours. This melds the wool together into a strong and durable felt. The chiy mat is then unwound and the resulting felt is left to dry.